KHYBER: The main road leading to Torkham via Khyber Pass remained closed as local transporters blocked the road to protest establishment of a truck terminal in Bara tehsil.

The road was blocked by protesting transporters at Takiya, Sultankhel that caused complete suspension of traffic to and from Torkham border.

The protesting transporters alleged that a group of self-proclaimed union representatives of transporters were involved in demanding terminal fee and bribes for allowing loaded vehicles out of turn to proceed to Torkham border.

They said that the matter about establishment of a truck terminal without taking them into confidence was repeatedly brought into the notice of local and district administration along with local parliamentarians as illegal money demanded from them was an additional financial burden on them.

The protesters alleged that truck drivers, who refused to bribe the terminal operators, were not allowed to go to Torkham and were instead made to wait for several days.

They said that sufficient space was available at Torkham border where vehicles could be parked prior to their customs clearance and onward journey to Afghanistan.

“The money taken by the so-called terminal operators in Akkakhel area of Bara is totally illegal and we reserve the right to approach judiciary for abolition of the said illegal terminal,” said the transporters.

Meanwhile, the local administration and police along with elders tried to persuade the protesting transporters to end the protest and clear the road but failed to make a breakthrough.

The main Peshawar-Torkham Highway remained closed till filing of this report late on Monday.

Also in the day, activists of various political parties and members of civil society groups held a protest demonstration at Bacha Khan Chowk in Landi Kotal against unscheduled and prolonged power loadshedding.

The enraged protesters chanted slogans against the local grid station staff and demanded curtailment in timings of loadshedding. They said that prolonged power suspension also resulted in shortage of drinking water in the area.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2020